File A121-R-61-7969SR-71AArticle 2020
61-7969
SR-71A · Article 2020
Lost10 May 1970
No display location
Dots mark every surviving airframe
No photo on fileNo openly licensed photograph of this airframe is in the archive yet. If you took one or know of one, it can be added with your permission.
Record
61-7969
2020
SR-71A
Not published
Not confirmed
Lost
Destroyed
Career
- Det 1 (Kadena) operational loss, not due to enemy action
How it was lost
Lost on 10 May 1970 near Korat RTAFB, Thailand, on an operational sortie from Kadena: climbing heavy with fuel after refuelling, it entered thunderstorm turbulence, both engines flamed out and could not be restarted. Pilot William E. Lawson and RSO Gilbert Martinez ejected safely.
In the chronology
| 10 May 1970 | SR-71A 61-7969 lost near Korat, Thailand SENIOR CROWN 61-7969 was lost near Korat RTAFB, Thailand, during an operational sortie from Kadena. Maj. William Lawson and Maj. Gil Martinez ejected safely. |
Where the record disagrees
Date conflict: sr-71.org, Baugher and most sources give 10 May 1970; habu.org gives 1 May 1970. Habu.org notes its first flight at Beale after fuel cell repairs was 25 January 1967 (not its maiden flight). Maiden flight date and hours not found.
Sources
- SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. Blackbird Losses (archived copy). Open · In the register
- Habu.org. 61-7969 (Blackbird Photo Archive). Archived copy · In the register
- The SR-71 Blackbird (thesr71blackbird.com). SR-71A Blackbird #17969 / #2020. Open · Archived · In the register
- SR-71 Online (sr-71.org), via Internet Archive. SR-71 Locations (archived copy, lists serial / Lockheed article number and fate). Open · In the register
- Joe Baugher. 1961 USAF Serial Numbers (61-7950 to 61-7981). Open · Archived · In the register